Anti-Brexit marchers tell Mrs May and her cabinet ‘bollocks to Brexit’

As many as 30,000 people peacefully marched through Manchester city centre after hearing speeches from prominent Remainers including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, anti-Brexit philosopher AC Grayling and The New European Editor-at-Large Alastair Campbell.

Before the march Sir Vince told The New European: ‘I hope the Tories just down the road here are listening. We have a very clear message for them today.

They are not all Leavers – far from it. There are plenty of Tory activists who are very unhappy with the way things are going.

‘I hope Labour are listening as well – a lot of people forget about Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-EU stance.

‘There are some very specific things Theresa May can do right now – the first should be to guarantee the rights of EU citizens here and UK citizens abroad. Currently they are scared and many are leaving.’

Addressing the crowd he added: ‘A lot of people at that Tory conference agree with us – they have to show some courage.

‘Theresa May is confident she is going to get a good deal. If she is so confident then why not put it to the public?’

The protest was lead by a float created by German artist Jacques Tilly depicting a four-headed Brexit monster showing caricatures of May, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and David Davis.

AC Grayling told the protesters: ‘I disagree with one thing being said today – we are much more than 48%.

‘Today we are showing them our determination to stop Brexit. I think we will but if we don’t we will not stop there. The future of the UK is inside the EU. We are all of us European.’

The march, which started in Oxford Road before passing close to the conference centre where the Conservatives are holding their annual gathering, included thousands of banners and a continuous chant of ‘bollocks to Brexit’.

Marchers Jill and John Kitchen, from Nantwich, said they have always backed the European project and vowed to fight on.

John said: ‘Since childhood I have been a committed European – even though, or perhaps because, my father fought in the Second World War. I am very proud to be here and will remain proud to be European.’

Jill added: ‘As a history teacher of 37 years I know that we achieve more if we work together. I am not sure if we can stop Brexit – but I won’t stop trying. We have to carry on and do whatever we can democratically to oppose it.’

Lynn Pocock travelled form Sheffield for the march. She said: ‘I think we have to have open doors.

‘During the referendum I was horrified when I spoke to parents who were voting to leave. We have let our children down – their future is in jeopardy.

‘I will carry on campaigning and carry on fighting until someone says ‘deal done’. In the current political climate anything could happen.’

March organiser Peter French said he was ‘delighted’ with the turn out adding that he thought the event had been a ‘great success’.